Filler valve with automatic and emergency cutoff



' May 27, 1952 G. L. N. MEYER 2,597,943

l FILLER VALVE WITH ATUOMATIC AND EMERGENCY CUTOFF v.

Filed Oct. 19. 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v '//MA- /I May 27, 1952 G. L. N.MEYER FILLER VALVE WITH ATUOMATIC AND EMERGENCY CUTOFF Filed OC'l.. 19,1945 May 27, 1952 I G. L. N. MEYER 2,597;943

FILLER VALVE WITH ATOMATIC AND EMERGENCY CUTOFF Filed Oct, .19. 1945 4Sheets-Sheet 3 660?? Z ./f//yeyer 2,597,943 FILLER VALVE wITAH ATUOMATICAND EMERGENCY cUToFF Filed oct. 19, 1945 G. L'. N. MEY-ER May 27, 1952 Ifd'ezz for.' eazye Z .1. ./Yqyez" rJ L n Mbnmjnn;

vf/,M/w//M L Hm@ Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEFILLER VALVE WITH AUTOMATIC AND EMERGENCY CUTOFF 13 Claims. l

This invention relates to valves and more particularly to acounter-pressure ller valve.

`In counter-pressure bottle llers it sometimes happens that a bottleenters the filler stirrup oif center, and when raised toward llingposition contacts the depending vent stem and raises the valve. In suchllers, raising the ller valve with no bottle in position under the valvepermits the beverage to flow out over the machine and not only wastesthe beverage but necessitates some cleaning of the machine.

One object of the invention is to provide a filler valve, having a ventstem projecting therebelow, which valve will not open in the event thevent tube is accidentally raised.

Another object is to provide a filler valve which will remain closedunder all circumstances until a predetermined counter-pressure isattained below the valve. I y

A further object is to provide a bottle ller valve which will eliminatethe necessity of stopping and cleaning the machine during operation.

A further object is to provide a self-sealing valve for bottle fillingmachines.

A further object is to provide a bottle filler valve which will notwaste the beverage.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent upon consideringthe following specification, which, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, illustrates a pre- -A ferred form of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional elevational view through a iiller bowl andfiller valve, showing both the liquid valve andthe counter-pressurevalves closed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but with the counter-pressure Valveopen and the liquid Valve shut;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but with both the liquid andcounter-pressure valves open; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, but showing theliquid valve being urged into open position by a misaligned bottle.

Referring to the drawings, the filling machine bowl Ill is adapted toreceive a beverage I2 in the lower part of the bowl, the upper part ofthe bowl being lled with gas under pressure which forms ,a source ofcounter-pressure through the ller The valves 2!! each have a valve cage22, which is mounted in the opening I5, with a collar 24 on the lowerend of the cage abutting a shoulder in the opening I 5 to retain thecage in the opening.

The cage 22 is provided with an annular flange 25 surrounding anaperture 21, which ange forms a lower abutment for a spring 29 to bedescribed below.

The cage has apertures 30 extending through the side walls of the cageabove the flange 25, and may have apertures 32 (Fig. 4) through thewalls of the cage below the iiange, the apertures 3!) and 32 formingpassages for the liquid from the bowl lll into the valve.

A valve seating ring 35 is mounted in the lower part of the aperture I5and serves to hold the valve cage in place with the collar 24, a gasketor rubber Ysealing ring, 31, preventing leakage of liquid past the cage22. y I

The valve seating ring 35 has a conical valve seat 38 which surrounds apassageway 39 and seats a valve generally designated 40. The valve 4Ucomprises a valve body 42 having a spider or guide wings 44 whichcontact the inside of the cage 22 to guide the valve in a vertical axialmovement relative to the seat 38. The valve body 42 has a horizontalcircular aperture around the lower part thereof which receives aflexible valve closure member 4S.

The valve closure member 46 is preferably made of rubber and is taperedtoward its outer periphery to form a feather edge to conform with theshape of thev conical valve seat 38. The closure its is made of highlyexible material, such as a soft rubber, so that it willnot open thepassageway 39 in the event the valve body is accidentally raised, but sothat the feather edge will bend down under the pressure of the liquid tomaintain the passageway sealed, as shown in Fig. 4.

The valve body 42 has a vertical aperture 48 therethrough. A tube 50 isscrew threaded into the upper end of the aperture 48 and extendsupwardly through vthe cage 22, and above the maximum level of the liquidin the bowl I0.

The tube 5G has a guide block 52 xed thereon, which guide block has asliding t in the upper open end of the cage 22. The guide block servesboth Vas a guide for the upper end of the valve 40 and as a base againstwhich the spring 29 abuts. The spring 29,'being in compression betweenthe flange 25; and the guide block 52 constantly urges the valve 40 intoopen position.

The upper end of the tube 5B is provided with a valve which is openedand closed mechani- 55 cally, but may be closed automatically-by fluidpressure upon reduction of pressure within the bottle. The valve 55 hasa tubular sleeve 55 which has a free sliding fit over the tube 50 withports 5'! to admit gas from the top of the bowl l to the tube 5B. Avalve seat 59 is made preferably of rubber and is secured in the top ofthe sleeve 56 and seats on the top of the tube D to stop ow of lgas downthe tube.

The upper -end of the tubular, sleeve is provided with an extension rod60 which has a head 6l which is adapted to actuate the valve uponmovement of a cam follower 63.

A spring 65 s mounted on thel tubular sleeve 56 between the top of theguide block 52` andi a shoulder' 56 on the tubular sleeve 56, below theports 51. The spring E6 urges the valve 55 into open position, the valvenormally remaining closed when there is no bottle beneath the valve 20due to the pressure within the bowl IB.

A vent tube 68 is screw threaded in the lower end ofthe opening 48 inthe valve body 42, and projects downwardly through a foraminouselementror screen-10which is mounted in the aperture 39, and into thebottle. The vent tube has a spreader element 12-mounted thereon whichdeflects the liquidflowing down the vent tube 68 on to the interior ofthe neck of the bottle.

A bottle sealing ring 'l5 is mounted in a centering ring'l'. The sealingringY may be made o1" rubber and has a centralV opening which carries artube 18 which forms aV continuation of the opening'39 in the valveseat35.

The centering ring 'll hasacam surface 79 which guides the bottle intocentral position underf thei valve 20 so that it may be lled DrODElly.

Amannular shoulder 813V is fcrmedon theexterior^of-thering 11. Theshoulder-80 receives the bifurcated end of a clampy 82. The-clamp 82istightened on the machine by a bolt 84 and servesvto retain the-entirevalve structure and centering ring in place in the opening l5.

As seen inFig; 4,L a snifter valve 85 is cam actuated to relievepressure within the bottle afterthevalvesl and4 55 have both beenclosed.

@perditionv In operation, the ller bowl IU is filled with a liquidbeverage to a level below the top of the tube; and gas is delivered tothe bowl above the'liqu'id under a predetermined pressure. At thisltimeboth valves 45 and55 are closed.

The4 ller may then` be started' and bottles B fed" into the stirrupsl(not shown) by a star wheel (not shown). into engagement with the valves20. As the stirrup lifts the bottle the end ofthe vent tube 68 entersthe neck of the' bottle, and the bottle is accurately centered under thevalve by the conical taper 'I9 on the centering ring ll.

The bottle is raised by the stirrup until it. is in sea-ling engagementwith the sealing ring l5. When this occurs the iiller bowl Hl hasrotated to a point where a, cam (not shown) actuates the cam follower63` to raise the valve 55 allowing the gas pressure within the upperpart of the bowl IB to pass through the opening 51 and down the tubes5E! and B8 and into the bottle B'.

After the follower 63 has opened the valve v a cam (not shown) returnsthe follower 63 to a neutral position permitting the valve 55, whichisheld open by the spring 65; to be closed by the pressure of the gas inthe event no bottle is in position under the valve 2U, or if the bottle-should burst.

The strrupslift the bottles When the counter-pressure in the bottle Bequals the pressure in the bowl IU, the spring 29 overcomes the liquidpressure on the valve 40, raising the guide block 52 which raises thevalve 4S, permitting the liquid l2 to ow downward past the valve 4B,through the passage 39, through the screen iB and the tube 18 and oilthe spreader 12 onto the inner surface of the neck of the bottle B:

As-thebeverage flows into the bottle; gas from the top of the bottleescapes through the tubes 68 and 50 and through the valve 55 into thetop of the bowl I0.

When the beverage rises above the bottom of the tube 68, it seals offthe tube 68 to the further escape of. gas, causing the gas pressure torise. Upon a rise in pressure the screen 1B acts to stop further ow ofthe beverage through the aperture 39 due to the surface tension of theliquid acting on the iine mesh of the screen. Thus the ilow of beverageis stopped when the level of` liquid inA thebottle-is slightly above thebottom of the vent tube 68.

The filler continuesvto rotateon its axis and passes a third cam (notshown) which actuates the follower 63 downwardly closing both the valves49-and55.

A fourth cam (not shown) opens the snifter valve, after the lfollower 63closes both valves 40 and 55, tofvent the gas pressure inthe. top of thebottle to the atmosphere. Thebottlefis then removed from' the machineand conveyed to the capper-for sealing.

Should the bottle B;burst the iuidy pressure on the valves would causeboththe valves 4U and 55 to close.

In the event. the-bottle becomes misaligned on the stirrup and forces.the valve body- 42 up wardly, as shown in Fig. 4, the rubberY valveclosure; 45 will bend downwardly under the pressurevof the liquidl2-and` keepthe-valve l0 from opening,- thuspreventing thefaceidentaldischarge of `beverage through'thevalve- 40:

It is to be understoodethat: the herein shown embodiment is to; be;construed merely' as a preferred example of the invention; and thatvarious changes in size, shape, and arrangement-of parts may be madewithout departingfrom the spirit ofV the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

That which is claimed as new and isfdesired to be secured by LettersPatent is:

1. Ina counter-pressure filler valve having a gas control valve adaptedto control the flow of counter-pressure to a container, a liquid: valveadapted to open upon the attaining of a predetermined counter-pressuretherebeneath, saidliquid valve comprisingv a cage, a valve seat at oneend of said cage, a valve body mounted for movement toward and away.from said seat, and a valve closure member carried by saidvalve body togov'- ern the flow of liquid through said valve; said valveclosuremember being movable-.with'respect to the valve body so thatt saidclosure remains seated on said' valve seat uponpmovement ofthe valvebody without the presenceY of sufcient counter-pressure beneath saidliquid valve.

2; In a counter-pressure filler. valver having a gas control valveadapted to control the ow of counter-pressure toa container, a liquid.valve adapted to open Vupon the attaining oa predeterininedcounter-pressure.therebeneathy said liquid valve comprisinga cage,aconical valve seat at one end of said cage, a Valve body mounted formovement toward and awayA from said seat', and

a valve closure member carried by said valve body to govern the flow ofliquid through said valve,l said valve closure member being movable withrespect to the valve body so that said closure remains seated on saidconical seat upon movement o! the valve body without the presence ofsufficient counter-pressure beneath said liquid valve.

3. In a counter-pressure filler valve having a gas control valve adaptedto control the flow of counter-pressure to a container, a liquid valveadapted to open upon the attaining of a predetermined counter-pressuretherebeneath, said liquid valve comprising a cage, a valve seat at oneend of said cage, a valve body mounted for movement toward and away fromsaid seat, and a iiexible valve closure member having a separatelymovable feather edge carried by said valve body to govern the flow ofliquid through said valve the feather edge of said valve closure memberiiexing to remain seated on said valve seat upon movement of the valvebody without the presence of suficient counter-pressure beneath saidliquid valve.

4. In a counter-pressure ller valve having a gas control valve adaptedto control the flow o f counter-pressure to a container, a liquid valveadapted to open upon the attaining of a predetermined counter-pressuretherebeneath, said liquid valve comprising a cage, a conical valve seatat one end of said cage, a valve body mounted for movement toward andaway from said seat, and a flexible valve closure member having aseparately movable feather edge carried by said valve body to govern theflow of liquid through said valve, the feather edge of said valveclosure member fiexing to remain seated on said conical seat uponmovement of the valve body without the presence of sufficientcounter-pressure beneath said liquid valve.

5. In a counter-pressure filler valve having a gas control valve adaptedto control the flow of counter-pressure to a container, a liquid valveadapted to open upon the attaining of a predetermined counter-pressuretherebeneath, said liquid valve comprising a cage, a valve seat at oneend of said cage, a valve body mounted for movement toward and away fromsaid seat, and a flexible valve closure member carried by said valvebody to govern the flow of liquid through said valve, said valve closuremember flexing down- Wardly to remain seated on said seat upon movelment of the valve body upwardly without the presence of suiiicientcounter-pressure beneath the said liquid valve.

6. In a counter-pressure filler valve having a gas control valve adaptedto control the fiow of counter-pressure to a container, a liquid valveadapted to open upon the attaining of a predetermined counter-pressuretherebeneath, said liquid valve comprising a cage, a conical valve seatat one end of said cage, a valve body mounted for movement toward andaway from said seat, and a flexible valve closure member carried by saidvalve body to govern the flow of liquid through said valve, said valveclosure member flexing downwardly to remain seated on said conical seatupon movement of the valve body upwardly without the presence ofsuiiicient counter-pressure beneath the said liquid valve.

7. In a countei-pressure ller valve having a gas control valve adaptedto control the iiow of counter-pressure to a container, a liquid valveadapted to open upon the attaining of a predetermined counter-pressuretherebeneath, said liquid valve comprising a cage, a valve seat at onecounter-pressure to a container, a liquid valvev adapted to open uponthe attaining of a predetermined counternpressure therebeneath, saidliquid valve comprising a cage, a conical valve seat at one end of saidcage, a valve body mounted forf movement toward and away from said seat,and a exible valve closure member having a feather edge, carried by saidvalve body to govern the flow of liquid through said valve, the featheredge of said valve closure member flexing downwardly to remain seated onsaid conical valve seat upon movement of the valve body upwardly withoutthe presence of sufficient counter-pressure beneath the said liquidvalve.

9. In a counter-pressure lled valve having a gas control valve adaptedto control the iiow of counter-pressure to a container, a liquid valveadapted to open upon the attaining of a predetermined counter-pressuretherebeneath, said liquid valve comprising a cage, a valve seat at oneend of said cage, a valve body having an annular aperture around theperiphery thereof, said body being mounted for movement toward and awayfrom said seat, and an annular rubber disc in said aperture to form avalve closure member and govern the fiow of liquid through said valve,said disc remaining seated on said valve seat upon movement of the valvebody without the presence of suiiicient counter-pressure beneath saidliquid valve.

10. In a counter-pressure filler valve having a gas control valveadapted to control the iiow of counter-pressure to a container, a liquidvalve adapted to open upon the attaining of a predeterminedcounter-pressure therebeneath, said liquid valve comprising a cage, avalve seat at one end of said cage, a valve body having an annularaperture around the periphery thereof, said body being mounted formovement toward and away from said seat, and an annular rubber disc,having a feather edge, in said aperture to form a valve closure memberand govern the iiow of liquid through said valve, the feather edge ofsaid disc flexing under pressure to remain seated on said valve seatupon movement of the valve body without the presence of suiiicientcounter-pressure beneath said liquid valve.

11. In a counter-pressure filler valve having a gas control valveadapted to control the flow of counter-pressure to a container, a liquidvalve adapted to open upon the attaining of a predeterminedcounter-pressure therebeneath, said liquid valve comprising a cage, aconical valve seat at one end of said cage, a valve body having anannular aperture around the periphery thereof, said body being mountedfor movement toward and away from said seat, and an annular rubber dischaving the outer edge feathered parallel to the conical seat mounted insaid aperture to form a valve closure member and govern the iiow ofliquid through said valve, the feather edge of said disc flexing underpressure to remain seated on said valve seat upon movement of the valvebody 7 without: the` presencev of suicientcounter-pressurebeneathsaid'liquidvalve. Y

12; In' a counter-pressure filler valvevhavinga gas, control valveadapted to control the ow of counter-pressure gas-to the container tobefilled,

a liquidV valve adapted to open normally upon the attaining-- of apredetermined counter-pressure the-rebeneath, said liquid valvecomprising a valve seat, a valve body mounted for movement toward andaway from said seat, and a valve closure member carried by said valvebody to govern the iiow of liquid through said valve, said valveclosure-member being; movable with respect to the valve body so thatsaid closure remainsseated upon said valve seat upon movement ofthevalve body without the presence of suicient counter- -pressurebeneath said liquid valve.

13. Ina counter-pressure filler valve adapted to control the iiovv ofcounter-pressure gas` and liquid froma filler bowl-to a container to belled, avalve cage, having a liquid conducting passage at the lowerend-thereof, a valve seat surrounding said passage, a gas conductingtube mounted in theupper end of thecage and extending above the. levelof' liquid in the bowl, a valvebodyfhaving a passage for gas'therethrough mounted on said tube and adapted to conduct gas from saidtube. through said valve to the container, valve means to control theflow of gas through, said tube and said valve body, and a exible. valveclosure member carried by said valve bodyA and adapted to Aseaton saidseat to control the flow of liquid through said liquid conductingpassage, said valve closure member exing downwardly to remain seated onsaid seat upon movementof the valve body upwardly without the presenceofsufcient counter-pressure beneath the liquid valve.

GEORGE L. N. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The` following'references are of:v record in the fileof'thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Meyer Dec. 8, 1936

